Page 185 of Black Reign

No lipstick.

No flirting around what matters.

She believes Blackwell is connected to her father's death.

And she thinks I might be too.

I stare at the book.

My only love sprung from my only hate.

Now I understand.

Not completely.

Enough.

GHOST: Do you think I killed him?

The response takes too long.

My jaw locks.

Then:

VESPER: I think you know things you don’t know you know.

What the hell does that mean?

GHOST: Explain.

VESPER: Not here. Not yet.

GHOST: You trust NULL.

VESPER: I trusted Ghost.

Past tense.

That one cuts.

I type before caution arrives.

GHOST: Did you ever care about me, or was I always Blackwell once you figured it out?

Nothing.

I shouldn't have asked.

Too late.

Thirty seconds.

One minute.

I picture her somewhere in London looking at the same black screen.

Finally: